Fire destroys Pittsburgh church.

Lord, have mercy on your servants.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

As she watched Transfiguration Roman Catholic Church burn Thursday morning, Veronica Whitico clutched a red missal to her chest that was turned to Kings 18:41-46, the day's Scripture reading.

In the reading, God sends rain to forgive the Israelites for testing him. Earlier, they'd challenged him to prove his might by setting fire to a huge altar. He did, and the Israelites were humbled.

Authorities said a burning car at the rear of the building may have started the fire that destroyed the church built in 1916 along McKrell Road in West Deer.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating.

As morning Mass ended around 8 a.m., parishioners heard two loud booms behind the church. Black smoke began to pour through the church's ventilation system.

Whitico, who has attended the church for 71 years, said she dropped to her knees and prayed that the church might be saved.

Then, she and about 20 other parishioners made their escape.

No one was injured but the church was destroyed.

"It's going to be a total loss, unfortunately," said West Deer police Chief Jon Lape. "It spread quickly. Very quickly."

Whitico's parents helped to build the church. She was baptized and married there, and put three sons through Transfiguration School, an elementary school. Her husband even helped design the church's signature sheet-metal bell tower.

"My whole life was the church," Whitico said. "It was the biggest part of my life, next to my family."

She takes heart from the Scripture reading, however.

"The only thing I'll say is, God is good, and everything happens for a reason," Whitico said. "Something good will come of this because God is good."

The Rev. John Vojtek transferred to Transfiguration Church on Monday to replace the former pastor, the Rev. Robert Habe, who retired.

"While it is always sad to lose a church building with all its history, religious artifacts and memorials, and it is a substantial financial blow to the parish, we are extremely grateful that no one was injured in the fire," said a statement released by the Most Rev. Paul Bradley, auxiliary bishop, vicar general and general secretary of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

"Diocesan staff from our property and insurance offices have already been providing assistance to the parish," Bradley said.

Parish secretary Jackie O'Toole, who was baptized and married in the church, said time will tell whether the church is rebuilt.

"When you lose your church," O'Toole said, "it's like losing your home."

Transfiguration School student Kelly Mehal, 13, and several other children sat on a wall across from the church while firefighters fought the fire.

"We received all our sacraments here," she said. "It's sad it's burning down."

Mehal hopes some good will come of the fire.

"Maybe there's a miracle waiting to happen," she said.

As firefighters put out the last flames, a prayer circle formed behind one of the fire trucks.

Lois Woloszyk, whose grandchildren attend Transfiguration School, led the prayer.

"Comfort us, Holy Spirit, as best you can," she said.

Rose Grondwalski, another member of the prayer circle, was baptized in the church more than 45 years ago.

"It'll be fine," she said through tears. "We'll rebuild, and it'll be fine."

The Rev. Ronald Lengwin, spokesman for the diocese, said discussion on whether to rebuild the church has not begun.

"We're just grieving the loss of the building right now," he said.